🔧 Skilled Trades ↑ 4% growth · Average

Auto Body / Collision Repair Technician

Collision repair techs restore damaged vehicles after accidents — straightening frames, replacing panels, and applying paint. With ADAS recalibration now required after every collision, techs who master new tech are in high demand.

$47,580 Median Salary

168K US Jobs

1–2 years Training

$5,000–$20,000 Typical Cost

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💰 Salary & Earning Potential

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.

Apprentice body technicians typically earn $18–$24 per hour in training positions. Experienced collision technicians in flat-rate pay systems at busy shops earn $50,000–$80,000 annually. Master technicians specializing in aluminum repair or ADAS calibration earn $70,000–$100,000. Estimators and shop managers — roles that experienced techs often transition into — earn $65,000–$95,000. Geographic market and insurance direct-repair program volume affect shop income significantly. I-CAR Gold Class certification for the shop and Platinum level for individual technicians are the industry's primary professional standards.

Entry Level

$34,000

Median

$47,580

Experienced

$74,000

Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.

📈 Job Outlook

Projected Growth (10yr)

Average

168K

Total US Jobs

Active positions nationwide

ASE Collision Repair Certifications

Required Credential

ASE Collision Repair Certifications (B-series)

Collision repair technicians work primarily at body shops affiliated with insurance networks — the steady flow of accident damage claims ensures consistent work volume. The BLS projects steady demand for auto body technicians, with vehicle repair needs remaining largely insulated from economic downturns. Advanced vehicle materials — aluminum, high-strength steel, and carbon fiber — are creating demand for technicians with manufacturer-specific training and specialized equipment. ADAS calibration after structural repair has become a mandatory new skill as vehicles with cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors require recalibration after any collision that alters sensor alignment.

🎓 Training & Education

Typical Program

Auto Body/Collision Repair Certificate or AAS

Program Length

1–2 years

Typical Tuition

$5,000–$20,000

Work Setting

Auto body shops, dealership body shops, fleet collision centers

Collision repair training is offered through two-year associate degree programs in automotive collision technology at community colleges and vocational schools. Programs cover straightening techniques, welding (MIG, TIG, spot), painting and refinishing, plastic repair, and estimating. I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) offers professional development courses and a comprehensive certification structure — Platinum certification requires completing I-CAR courses across all collision repair disciplines. ASE collision repair certifications (B-series) validate technician competency in structural repair, non-structural analysis, painting, and mechanical systems within the collision repair context. Many technicians supplement formal training with OEM vehicle-specific training programs.

🏆 Credential Required: ASE Collision Repair Certifications (B-series)

☀️ Day in the Life

A Collision Repair Technician begins by reviewing the work order for the day's assigned vehicle — a sedan with front-end damage from a low-speed accident. The estimator has noted frame damage, so the tech starts by pulling the vehicle onto the frame straightening rack, connecting pull chains to the damaged sections, and applying hydraulic pulling force while monitoring measurements on the computerized frame gauge system until dimensions return to factory specification within tolerance. With the frame correct, they remove damaged body panels, order replacement parts through the parts department, and begin the metal-working process — using a stud welder to apply pull tabs to dented sections and a slide hammer to draw out the metal. Between structural tasks, they prep a repainted quarter panel for reassembly using body filler and a series of progressively finer sandpaper grits. Time is tracked against the insurance estimate's labor hours.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

Pros

Consistent work volume from insurance claims: Accident damage creates a steady stream of work that isn't discretionary spending — people need their cars fixed regardless of the economy.
Flat-rate earning potential: Efficient collision technicians who complete jobs ahead of the estimated hours earn above the shop's base hourly equivalent.
Visible transformation satisfaction: Taking a badly damaged vehicle and returning it to like-new condition is one of the most visible and satisfying outcomes in any trade.
Growing specialty in ADAS calibration: Vehicle ADAS technology is creating premium skill demand for technicians who invest in calibration training and equipment.
Career transition options into estimating and management: Experienced technicians routinely move into estimating, insurance appraiser, and shop management roles with salary rather than flat-rate compensation.

Cons

Solvent, dust, and isocyanate exposure in paint work: Painting operations generate isocyanate primers and solvent vapors requiring supplied-air respirators and comprehensive PPE to manage health risk.
Physical demands of metalworking and body work: Reaching into panels, working in tight spaces, and applying pulling force with hydraulic equipment creates physical strain over a career.
Insurance estimate disputes affect earnings: Technicians occasionally disagree with insurance estimates that don't allow adequate hours, creating friction and affecting flat-rate earnings.
Investment in tools and equipment: Collision technicians are often expected to provide their own hand tools — an ongoing expense as tool inventory grows with experience.

🗺️ Auto Body / Collision Repair Technician by State

See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:

📍 Brooksville, FL

Certificate 1-<2yr

How to compare these options

Look for programs that align with the most common hiring path for Auto Body / Collision Repair Technician in your state.
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